MSC Software Teams Up With UNED to Bring FEA Masters Program to Engineering Communities

SANTA ANA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/19/12 -- MSC Software Corporation (MSC), the leader in multidiscipline simulation solutions that accelerate product innovation, today announced that it has teamed up with the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Spain's biggest distance university with more than 200,000 students, to train postgraduates and professional engineers in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis and simulation with MSC's finite element software.

In collaboration with Ingeciber S.A., distributor of MSC products in Spain, UNED offers an International Master in Theoretical and Practical Application of Finite Element Method (FEM) and CAE Simulation. Though the FEM Master was first imparted in 1993, it was not until last year that Ingeciber started to use MSC's Patran and MSC Nastran for training purposes. Miguel Angel Moreno, General Manager of the company, expects the usage of MSC's CAE tools for education to promote software sales in Spain as companies tend to buy the tools their engineers are familiar with.

"The principal objective of the FEM Master is to improve CAE knowledge, not only among recently graduated engineers and scientists, but also among experienced professionals who want to broaden their skills in simulation and analysis," explains Moreno. The master addresses the growing demand of training in CAE technology through an adaptive educational program and distance program which allows students to achieve three different levels of expertise: CAE Expert, Specialist and Master. The program is oriented towards a rapid adoption of the "lessons learned" in professional life, using the most advanced CAE tools available on the market for practical lessons. Students have access to the UNED's modern e-learning infrastructure, including virtual classrooms, forums, video conferencing and local language tutorials, which support fast and flexible learning.

The FEM Master has a mechanical engineering and a civil engineering branch which share common lectures on FEM theory and material behavior. Best practices in mechanics are taught using Patran and MSC Nastran, which students can install on their personal computer as student versions. Civil engineers work with CivilFEM, a home grown CAE application for construction, which Ingeciber plans to migrate to the MSC Software Marc solver in the near future.

"Industrial products and public infrastructures are becoming increasingly complex," explains Kais Bouchiba, Senior Vice President Sales EMEA at MSC Software. "CAE technology is vital to be able to predict their behavior, evaluate possible alternatives and optimize their functionality in early stages of development. For this reason, mechanical and civil engineers need to know more about the finite element method and its application on different types of analysis. MSC Software not only provides the necessary CAE tools but also supports the joint efforts of UNED and Ingeciber to bring these tools closer to the engineering communities."

About UNEDThe National University of Distance Education (UNED) is the largest university in Spain. The UNED is a distance university that offers a blended learning methodology. The UNED's model combines distance education, supported by digital technologies, and also face to face education, which takes place in Study Centers located in Spain, Europe, Latin America and Africa. The National Distance Education University (UNED) has as its mission the public service of higher education through the modality of distance education. For further information, click www.uned.es

About Ingeciber S.AIngeciber S.A. is a pioneer and consolidated engineering firm specializing in CAE services, software development and distribution. Since 1986, Ingeciber has been focused on supplying best-in-class tools, technical support and training in CAE analysis, specially based on FEM and Mathematics Models Simulation, and also performing very advanced consultancy services for mechanical and civil engineering. For additional information about Ingeciber please visit www.ingeciber.com.

About MSC SoftwareMSC Software is one of the ten original software companies and the worldwide leader in multidiscipline simulation. As a trusted partner, MSC Software helps companies improve quality, save time and reduce costs associated with design and test of manufactured products. Academic institutions, researchers, and students employ MSC technology to expand individual knowledge as well as expand the horizon of simulation. MSC Software employs 1,000 professionals in 20 countries. For additional information about MSC Software's products and services, please visit: www.mscsoftware.com

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